Banjoman, thanks for the stats. I haven't had a chance to read everyone's stories yet. I'll post this and then enjoy myself. Demian has PO'd the confirmation gods, I fear...

Memoir of Demian Kraft

Part 4

Snow and more snow. 21 February was payday,[1] and Berse and I managed to get a 24 hour pass and a drive into Ostend, where we prowled the shops and cafés for a long afternoon. We watched a naval band perform and had dinner at the immerse Royal Palace Hotel, spending more than a week’s pay in the process.[2] Afterwards we found lodgings in a small family inn, where we enjoyed hot baths and good beer, before returning to the airfield in the morning, just in time for parade.


Kriegsmarine band performing in Ostend


The Royal Palace Hotel

Our new Jastafuehrer had arrived that morning, 22 February. Ltn der Reserve Wieland had transferred in from Jasta 8. He had a kill to his credit from his time in two-seaters before that. [3] The new boss said he would interview each of us in turn, and if we were not up to scratch we would find ourselves hanging from a kite balloon somewhere.

I flew a mid-day defensive patrol to Iseghem, led by Ltn Kampe, and saw nothing. On landing I had my interview with the new boss. He stated that he heard I was a good pilot, but had a few too many unsubstantiated claims, and he cautioned me.

On 23 February my scheduled barrier patrol was cancelled, again due to snow. That afternoon a contingent from Halbgeschwader 1 arrived. They are setting up in hangars at the other end of the field, next to the Marinefeldjagdstaffel hangars. The new group was to be called Kagohl 3, and were to be equipped with new long-range bombers. Or so we were told. For the moment we saw only trucks, wagons, tents, and a lonely Aviatik.

I was directed to prepare a detailed written report on each of my claims for Ltn Wieland, and spent most of 24 February typing it in the Staffel office. This was getting on my nerves. Only Berse talked freely with me these days.

On 25 February 2017 I joined Ltn Rosenstein, Ltn Körner, OStv Berse, and Vzfw Träger to escort some DFWs on an artillery shoot over the English lines. When we met with the two-seaters west of Ghistelles they were already under attack from a large formation of English Nieuports. We immediately dived into the enemy and a thrilling fight began. I selected one Englishman and we turned and twisted from 1200 meters down to 500 before I got a good crack at him. The Nieuport broke away and headed west over the lines. I followed, barely able to close on him, and fired from long range. As I hoped, the Englander climbed and turned, which let me close the distance. It took only a minute to get a long, killing burst. The white Nieuport reared up and then dived vertically through a low cloud. I followed , throttling back carefully. When I emerged from the cloud I could see a column to grey smoke leading to a spot just in front of our lines. The machine had disintegrated on impact. I flew low over the scene and turned for home, hopeful at last of a confirmed victory.

It was not to be. A Flakartillerie battalion was claiming the fallen machine. The others in my flight had either turned home before the Nieuport fell or had pursued other enemy machines farther west. Headquarters denied my claim. I left the mess after dinner that night, sure that the others were snickering about me behind my back.

On 26 February I was permitted to lead an escort mission to the English field at Furnes. Our DFWs dropped several bombs and we patrolled the lines for a bit afterward, but saw nothing. My only consolation is that this Staffel has not yet had a confirmed kill, so I tell myself that at least I know I have contributed to our war effort more than the others, even if I have nothing to show for it.

Historical Notes:

[1] The German Army paid its personnel on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month.
[2] The Royal Palace was built in 1899, the largest hotel in Europe. Managed by Luigi Steinscheider, an Austrian who formerly ran Shepherds Hotel in Cairo, it played host to kings, shahs, and presidents for decades. Before the war, Ostend had been the most elegant bathing destination in Europe.
[3] Ltn d. R. Erich Wieland was credited with a BE2 destroyed while with FFA 6 in 1916.